Service Information

Helen Alice Mendes

January 16, 1934 - August 6, 2017

Obituary

At the age of 83 our beloved aunt Helen Alice Mendes passed and now is with those that preceded her in death; her parents, Jose and Anna Fidalgo, husband Dan Mendes, sister Marie Machado, brothers Albert and Joe Fidalgo as well as her nephew Albert Fidalgo Jr. With the passing of her mother at a young age, she turned into a caregiver early on. She married the day of her 22nd birthday but that came after the passing of her father. She went to work at W.T. Grants in the luncheonette and eventually worked her...

At the age of 83 our beloved aunt Helen Alice Mendes passed and now is with those that preceded her in death; her parents, Jose and Anna Fidalgo, husband Dan Mendes, sister Marie Machado, brothers Albert and Joe Fidalgo as well as her nephew Albert Fidalgo Jr. With the passing of her mother at a young age, she turned into a caregiver early on. She married the day of her 22nd birthday but that came after the passing of her father. She went to work at W.T. Grants in the luncheonette and eventually worked her way up to the Office Manager. After the closure of Grants, she went to work at J.C. Penney's, again as Office Manager. When she felt she had had enough, she was out of there, it was time for someone younger to do the job so she could start enjoying life.She enjoyed being in the kitchen, whether it be cooking or baking. She also enjoyed knitting, crocheting, sewing but especially gardening. If you ever had anything out of her garden it was like no other, especially the tomatoes.

Mourning her passing are her nieces and nephews, Maria (Mark) Henry of Hughson, Dwayne (Sherry) Machado of Turlock, Debbie (Gary) Powell, Arnold (Terri) Fidalgo and Joanne McKinzie all of Modesto, Dan Fidalgo of Turlock and Tony Fidalgo of Hughson, and many great and great great nieces and nephews. Visitation/Viewing will be at Lakewood Funeral Home, Monday Aug. 14th, 4:00pm - 7:00pm with a Rosary to follow in the Heritage Chapel. Mass will be Tuesday at 10:00am at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Hughson with committal to follow at Lakewood Memorial Park. Reception and Celebration of Life at Hughes Hall, St. Anthony's Church on the corner of Fox and Euclid. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to: Memorial Hospital Foundation, 1329 Spanos Ct., Suite C2, Modesto, CA 95355. Note: Cardiac Services.

We the family would like to "thank everyone" that took part in this final journey, from Doctors, Nurses, Memorial Hospital, English Oaks, Rehab Facility, Samaritan Village to the Paramedics and finally, last but not lease the Priest, Father Leonardo Del Carmen. You all made it more comforting not only for her, but for us as well.